Summary
A former Bungie lawyer has remarked that Sony’s “discipline” helped improveDestiny 2after the live-service looter shooter’s reputation took a hit. These comments come in the wake of the recently announced future changes toDestiny 2’scontent roadmap and approachability.
Although Sony’s $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie was made in the interest of the latter’s expertise in live-service games, it has turned out to be a headache for Sony over time. 2023’sLightfallexpansion forDestiny 2garnered disappointment from critics and fans alike, andBungie went through mass layoffs in 2023and 2024 due to an allegedly high burn rate. After the more recent layoffs in July, it was reported that Sony leadership had taken over Bungie, which might just be the best path forward for the studio, says one ex-Bungie lawyer.
AfterBungie recently outlined some major plans forDestiny 2that aim to streamline the live-service title’s content output and approachability for new players, former Bungie general counsel Don McGowan addressed the studio’s leadership situation in arecent LinkedIn post. McGowan stated that the upcoming changes toDestiny 2are likely a result of Sony “inflicting some discipline” on Bungie, which purportedly “forced” the studio to break its slump and identify key issues affecting the game, such as implementing methods of “new player acquisition.” He believes runningDestiny 2"like a business" is the right play for Bungie.
Several “Egos” at Bungie Supposedly Hindered Progress After Sony Buyout
McGowan added that this is the future he envisioned Bungie embracing after the Sony acquisition, where it would act as a studio and not an “independent company.” Unfortunately, though, there were apparently a “lot of egos” at Bungie who wanted to pretend that “nothing would change” after the buyout. This may well have been the reason behind Bungie’s numerous problems in recent years, which in turn led toDestiny 2’s popularity tanking to an all-time low. Thankfully, the studio does seem to have a clearer vision forDestiny 2’s future, and will hopefully make it less overwhelming for newcomers.
This is the future I thought the company should embrace after the Sony acquisition: a studio, not an ‘independent company.’ But there were a lot of egos for whom it was important to pretend that ‘nothing would change.’
As for Bungie itself, the July 2024 layoffs shook up the studio in a major way, as CEO Pete Parsons confirmed that it’ll only focus onDestiny 2and the upcomingMarathonreboot. One of the studio’s supposedly more promising incubation projects, codenamedGummybears, was moved to a new internal team at PlayStation along with 155 former Bungie devs. Interestingly, thelong-rumoredDestinymobile gameis reportedly still in the works between Bungie and NetEase, but has yet to be addressed in an official capacity.
Destiny 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.An Immersive StoryYou are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.Guardian ClassesChoose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
